Zoisite lay asleep within Kunzite’s protective arms. ‘She sleeps a lot,’ he thought, but then shrugged. She was pregnant after all and the baby needed her energy to grow. He smiled remembering how graceful she was becoming.
Zoisite sighed and shifted slightly. Kunzite kissed the tip of her nose trying to wake her, and grinned as her face wrinkled up like a bunny’s. She stretched and blinked her eyes, gazing up at him with total trust and love.
"Beryl said she wanted to see you in her private chambers as soon as you woke." He watched fear darken her brilliant emerald eyes.
"I wonder if she knows." Her hand strayed to her stomach, which was starting to swell with the babe.
Kunzite pulled her close, kissing her forehead. "You have hid it so well, that I do not think so." He kissed her worried lips.
"You must go," he sighed. Pulling her up within the bed, Kunzite saw the gentle swelling of her stomach, and he bent down to place a light kiss upon her.
Zoisite smiled at what her lover did, and stood with a stifled yawn. Pulling on her pants, she found, with growing dismay, that they would not tighten as well as they should.
She gave Kunzite a soft kiss, and she disappeared in a flutter of cherry blossoms.
Kunzite checked the time. It had been three hours! Where was she?!
As if answering his silent question, she appeared and fell wearily into his stone chair. Zoisite took the glass of wine he offered, and held the fluted glass in her delicate hand, but made no move to drink. Her body started to tremble violently and, in a sudden rage, before Kunzite could stop her, she shattered the glass stem within her hand.
Blood ran freely down her arm from the deep wounds, and the fragments of the delicate glass had embedded themselves deep under her skin, slicing veins.
After all her punishments, and scars she had received, this one hurt the most, and tears flooded her tight expression.
Kunzite acted quickly, wrapping one of his shirts around her wounded hand, sweeping her up in his arms, and teleported with the same breath.
They materialized in Jadeite’s rooms, startling the two lovers, entwined in each other’s arms.
"Amethyte!!" Kunzite called. "I need your help!"
The woman in Jadeite’s arms rose and pulled on a light lilac robe, and her long violet hair in to a loose tail at the nape of her neck, exposing her sculpted features. High cheek bones, pale skin, a slender frame, and royal purple eyes. She walked over to where Kunzite stood cradling Zoisite who was sobbing bitterly.
She placed a delicately made hand upon Zoisite’s hair, smoothing the stray strands. "What happened? Is it the child?" She whispered.
"No," Kunzite snapped. "She shattered one of the Silvenisti glasses you gave us."
Amethyte hissed. "Set her down, either on the bed on in that chair."
During this time, Jadeite had gotten semi-dressed, and came over to see if he could help. He saw Kunzite’s shirt soaking with Zoisite’s blood, and gave a low whistle.
"What happened, Zo?" He whispered to the copper hared beauty crying her out heart.
"Beryl-" She gasped through her pain.
"She met with Beryl privately." Kunzite’s face was grim. "In her quarters."
Zoisite started to sob even harder and the mention of the meeting.
Jadeite had a fondness for the smaller of the Kings, and he showed it no matter what Kunzite thought. "What did she say?" They sat her down upon the edge of the bed, Kunzite supporting her from the back. Jadeite took hold of her uninjured hand, looking up at her with his beautiful sapphire eyes, as he knelt on the floor, concern written plainly all over his face.
"She knows," she finally blurted.
Kunzite stiffened. "About what?"
"The-the-the-the baby," she tried to whisper.
All the while, Amethyte picked out the shards of glass, listing to what would be fall the innocent child.
Jadeite gently brushed the tears off Zoisite’s face. "She won’t kill the child. The babe will be to valuable and asset for her to loose."
"But," Zoisite choked. "After I have given birth," Her eyes started to shimmer with tears again. "She will kill me."
Kunzite’s arms wrapped around her waist and squeezed her tightly to him. "She shall never harm you. Never."
Amethyte stitched the gashes in her hand, picking out the smallest shards as she went along and putting them into a bowl with the other pieces. She silently shook her head, feeling sorry for the female King.
Kunzite’s fingers, splayed upon her stomach, felt a brief fluttering of movement, and he realized that the child had moved for the first time. He stilled as tears came to his eyes. He would never hear this child’s first words, see it’s first steps, see Zoi dozing in his chair with their child curled at her breast. He would never see Zoi’s eyes light up as they did before.
Zoisite finally noticed that Kunzite had not moved in some time, and was about to ask him why, when she felt it. Laying her hand along side of his, Zoisite felt the fluttering of the baby moving against her fingers. She turned large eyes to her lover.
"I know," he whispered brokenly. "The babe still lives."
They buried themselves in each other’s arms and wept.
"HOW COULD YOU DO THIS TO ZOI?!?!?!?!?!" Kunzite yelled at the prone form.
Jadeite lay sprawled where Kunzite had thrown him, on the floor, sparkling shards of glass embedded in his skin.
"I -- I -- I did not do what you say." Jadeite gasped, feeling his blood start to seep from the gashes. "I love Zoi as much as you do." He placed his hands under himself, and, despite the shards of glass, levered painfully to his feet. Pain shot through his body as the shards pushed deeper. "I had no part in this."
"LIER!!!!" Kunzite cried as he grabbed Jadeite by the throat and flung him like a rag doll through the shelves of glass. Jadeite hit the wall with a thud and slowly sank down to the floor.
He leaned against the stone wall for support, sitting on his rear, fighting nausea. He let a soft moan escape his lips as a fuming Kunzite stood over him.
"I did nothing!" He whispered painfully, his sight becoming fuzzy.
Kunzite growled low in his throat as he knelt beside him. His large hand wrapped around Jadeite’s slender throat, slamming his head against the wall, pinning him.
"Do not lie to me again, Jadeite." He snarled. "Or you die."
"I......did...nothing!" He gasped, his slender hands weakly trying to pull Kunzite’s hand off his throat.
"Then who told?" He snarled. "You and Amethyte were the only ones who knew!" His grip tightened, cutting off Jadeite’s air supply.
Jadeite’s world grew blacker by the moment as Kunzite’s grip tightened further, nearly crushing his windpipe.
"JADEITE!!"
Kunzite turned to see two female figures running towards them. One he knew all too well. Zoisite was furious!
"How could you do this?!?!?!" She cried as she raised her hand and let it fly. It struck Kunzite’s jaw, and startled him so much, that he loosened his grip on Jadeite’s throat.
The second woman, that he recognized as Amethyte, ran to pull Jadeite in to her arms, whispering softly to him.
At the sound of her soft words, and gently caressing, Jadeite’s eyes fluttered open to gaze into Amethyst’s deep violet eyes.
Amethyte, heedless of the blood stained floor as she whispered, brushing his hair off his face. "Why did he do this, love?"
He strained to get enough breath to whisper painfully, "Tell him I didn’t turn Zo over to Beryl. Please tell him." His voice cracked.
Kunzite, startled by the force of Zoisite’s blow, fell back.
"Why did you do this?!?" She cried again, trying to hold her tears back. "Jadeite did nothing. He would never turn me over to Beryl!" A single tear fell from her eye. "He did nothing." She threw a glare over her shoulder at Kunzite, then went over to help Amethyte.
Amethyte looked up from where she cradled the wounded man. Her face covered with tears that did nothing to disguise the furry within their jewel-like depths.
"Get out."
"Wha?!"
"I said get out!" Her voice held no room for argument, and was deceptively soft with animosity.
Kunzite, shocked at the viciousness in her voice, disappeared in pillars of blue-white flames, with a last glare at the younger man.
"Zoi," Amethyte lifted her face to look at Zoisite. "Help me."
She knelt down beside her, gently touching Jadeite’s neck, checking the pulse. "How?"
"Help me pick out these shards. We can not leave them in his body."
"All right," she sighed. "What do we use?"
"There is my bag beside the bed with my tools in it. Pull out the two pairs of tweezers."
Zoisite returned shortly with the tools. She gave Amethyte a pair and kept the second for herself.
"What are we going to put the shards in?" Asked Zoisite, looking around. She spotted a silver bowl and picked it up, cradling it within her hands. "Never mind."
"Start with his hands." She gave a slight smile. "That is, if you do not mind the blood."
Zoisite surveyed the flood, Amethyte’s dress, then her uniform, and grinned. "Too late now!"
A ghost of a smile touched Amethyte’s lips, as Zoisite picked up Jadeite’s limp hand, and went to work. The shards were under his skin, muscle, and in his bone, so it was not, by far, an easy job.
Jadeite moaned as he felt the shards being pulled free of his body. Piece by piece, each and every one bringing a moan to his lips, until they had freed his hands of the glass. His body twitched in pain as they rubbed ointment on his wounds, then bandaged them.
Amethyte gently moved him so that they could strip off his uniform jacket and undershirt. She gasped as she saw his bloody chest.
Slowly, the silver bowl filled with the shards, glistening scarlet in the soft light.
"I am sorry," Jadeite whispered painfully, pushing himself against her shoulder. His eyes closed as he breathed in gasps. "The crystal got shattered."
Amethyte gave a soft laugh. "Do not worry about the crystal." She nuzzled the top of his head, her face buried within the golden curls. "We can always get more. Zircon won’t mind, Love." Their crystal was a gift of friendship from Queen Beryl’s daughter, Zircon.
Jadeite cried out as Zoisite pulled a long, thin shard from his leg allowing the blood to well up from the fresh wound. His bandaged hands clenched as he let go of a sob, releasing his pain.
"Jae," Zoisite tried to gain his attention. "This one shall hurt. It is lodged inside of your bone."
Jadeite’s eyes fluttered and he whispered, "Do it."
"Are you sure?" She laid a pale hand upon his face.
"Yes." He swallowed hard. "Do it."
Amethyte took hold of his shoulders, pressing them down to make sure he would not move.
Zoisite took hold of the piece and pulled it as hard as she could. As she pulled, she heard a sickening sound, like a suction cup being pulled from a window, and then the shard slid free.
Jadeite convulsed as sharp agony coursed down his body as the shard slid free of its confinement. His cry caught in his throat, so that it only sounded like the cry of a new-born kitten.
Amethyte and Zoisite both were trying to soothe him to no avail. Amethyte felt hot tears soak in her dress were his head lay in her lap. Gently she caressed his face, as he convulsed once more. He collapsed back into Amethyte’s protective embrace, receiving a soft kiss upon his forehead. Through her bond of love, she felt the painful fire that raced along his nerves, and tried to take most of it away from him.
"Amethyte?" Zoisite placed a gently hand on her shoulder. "Should we put him to bed now that we have all the glass out?"
Amethyte felt for the pulse in his neck and sighed in relief as she felt the familiar rhythm, if a bit weak.
"Yes," she whispered, brushing back Jadeite’s damp hair. "All is bandaged and cleansed?"
"Yes." She gave a slight smile. "But now WE are the bloody ones."
Another shadow of a smile touched her lips. "Aye. Thank you." She looked up at Zoisite who knelt at her side. "How is your babe?"
Zoisite laid a bloodied hand upon her stomach. "Just fine, and kicking hard too!"
Amethyte gave an another slight smile. "Good." She tenderly lifted Jadeite so that he could sit.
Jadeite’s chin touched his chest. It was good that Zoisite and Amethyte were there to support his weakened body, because if they were not, he would have fallen and not gotten to his feet again. He looked at Zoisite who was under his left arm supporting him.
"You should not be doing this, Zo," he whispered as he shifted his weight to Amethyte.
"I can handle this." She sniffed.
"Bu-" he let out a sharp cry as he tried to put more weight on his foot. "But you are pregnant and should not be doing these things. Should she, Love?" Jadeite turned his gaze to the fierce woman beside him.
Amethyte wrapped her arm around his waist and pulled his right arm further across her shoulder. "No, but she shall do it anyway."
Jadeite smiled slightly. "You are right. She’ll do what she wants." When he saw that he led to the bed, he pulled them to a stop. "No."
They turned to look at him.
"Well where do you want to sleep?" Zoisite asked getting a little annoyed that Jadeite had said what she should or should not do.
"The bed."
"Then that settles it!" Zoisite started to pull him.
"No. I need to get-" He started to cough and Amethyte heard the rattling in his lungs.
Her lips quirked. "I know what he needs."
"What?" Zoisite sighed exasperated. "Besides you?"
"He needs to get that liquid out of his lungs."
"Oh!" Zoisite’s face gained a slightly flushed hue.
"Probably some blood drained in his chest." She started to lead him towards his bathroom. "That is what is causing the rattling in his lungs."
Zoisite propped herself against the door. "I’ll wait here." She smirked. "I don’t want to see any more of his body than I already have."
"Why?" Asked Amethyte casually.
"He’s not as handsome as my Kunzite-sama, but he sure is gorgeous."
Amethyte started to laugh hysterically at the red flush on Jadeite’s face.
"Don’t be ashamed of your body, Jae."
"Yeah! At least you’re not NEPHRITE!!!!!!!" Zoisite started to giggle. "He’s the one who’s getting a little pudgy!"
Jadeite managed a weak smile. "True. He ought to lay off all those twinkies."
Zoisite fell to the floor laughing so hysterically that tears were rolling down her gaunt cheeks, and clutching at her sides.
"Here, Come on, Love." Amethyte gently steered Jadeite away from a hysterical Zoisite towards his bathroom.
A short time later, Amethyte led a weakened Jadeite to his bed, and with a low cry, he fell in to the soft pillows. His breathing harsh, Jadeite clung to Amethyte’s hand, pulling her onto the bed beside him. "Stay," he murmured into her fragrant hair, wrapping his aching arms about her.
"Thank you again, Zoisite, for helping me." Amethyte looked at Zoisite who was starting to walk out the door.
Zoisite smiled softly. "You are welcome. Now I have to go and kill an asinine person by the name of Kunzite."
Amethyte laughed softly, her fingers gently brushing aside Jadeite’s sweat-damped hair. "You won’t kill him. Your oath prevents that. Remember?"
"Yeah, I know." She shrugged her slender shoulders. "I feel the pain as we speak, but I am ignoring it. I am just too mad!" Her eyes flashed dangerously. "I know who told!"
Amethyte’s hand stilled its gentle stroking. "Who?" She glanced up at her friend.
"I will take care of it, don’t worry."
"Who?!?!?!?" Amethyte cried waking Jadeite who dozed on her shoulder.
"Peridot." The name, spit from her mouth as if it were poison.
"I should have known!" Amethyte breathed.
Jadeite’s eyes fluttered. "What?" He murmured.
"Nothing," she whispered, kissing his forehead. "Just go back to sleep, Love."
Jadeite’s body obliged her request, and he fell back asleep.
"He betrayed my Kunzy-chan." Zoisite said simply, cracking a knuckle or two. "Now, if you excuse me, I have to whack some sense into my dear lover’s head."
Amethyte smiled again. "Hit him for me, Zoey."
Zoisite grinned savagely. "You can count on it!" And with that, she disappeared to give Kunzite a piece of her mind, AND her fist!
Amethyte sighed as the smile faded from her face. She turned her gaze to her only love.
His skin was very pale from the loss of blood, and she knew he was in drastic pain, but would never let it show. He was already weak and that did not help his condition at all. He needed to heal himself.
She gently brushed back his spring flaxen hair that clung to his forehead. She bent down, laying him back up the bed. He looked so small and frail now that she looked at him. The hollows made by his high cheek bones made more prominent. Making his face even more gaunt.
Amethyte kissed his flushed forehead. Then she curled beside him, laying her head above his on the pillow. She pulled his lax body into her arms, cuddling him close. She felt him stir slightly.
"Am?" He murmured. "What?" She whispered, running her fingers through the soft hair at his temples.
He rolled to his side, wrapped his arms encircling her thin waist, and placed his head upon her soft shoulder. He looked up at her through his golden lashes, into her now deep purple eyes. "I love you, Amethyte. I always have and I always will."
Amethyte smiled as she brought her face down to his. "I love you too, Jae." She breathed as their lips touched in a soft, tentative kiss.
Zoisite fumed. She could not believe that Kunzite actually thought that JADEITE turned them over to Beryl.
‘Check that,' she thought. ‘I am WAY BEYOND IRATE!!!’
She could fell the pain of the oath she took so long ago to prevent her from killing or injuring him, but she easily dismissed that. Appearing in Kunzite’s quarters, she paused just a moment before she gave him the tongue-lashing he so rightly deserved.
"WHAT IN THE NAME OF TAKIHISS POSSESED YOU TO THINK THAT JADEITE TURNED ME OVER!!!!!!" She screamed at the top of her lungs.
Kunzite stood growling. "He was one that knew!"
"Dark Kingdom to Kunzite!! Jadeite was NOT the only one who knew!!"
Kunzite’s fists clenched. "Who else knew?"
"You told Peridot!!!" She cried indignantly.
"When did I......" He trailed off as he remembered he had INDEED told Peridot about the baby. He fell into the chair, lowering his head into his shaking hands. "How could he do this to me?" He whispered painfully. "He was my friend."
"Evidently not!" Cried Zoisite as she started to pace the room. She had the overwhelming urge to nail his rear to the wall.
Suddenly Nephrite appeared, clutching his head in his hands.
"Would you two quit yelling at one another? You are giving me a massive migraine!"
Zoisite turned to look at Nephrite.
"No! Kunzite-sama has just made a very BIG mistake."
A look of pain flashed across his face. Kunzite hung his head with a groan.
"Whoa! Zo! Getting a little pudgy." Nephrite gave a wicked grin. "I told you to quit eating like a-" He was cut off by the scorn in her voice.
"I’ve lost my appetite."
Nephrite walked over and gently placed his hand against her forehead. "You felling all right?" Concern showed plainly in his cobalt eyes. He knew something was wrong when she didn’t throw a remark back at him. She wasn’t being the same Zoisite. "Zoey?" Nephrite whispered, his voice full of worry and concern
"I’m fine," she whispered. Then with a soft moan, she fell and would have hit the floor if Nephrite had not caught her in time.
"Zo!" Nephrite called her name frantically as Kunzite bolted from where he sat, and knelt beside the two. "What is wrong with her?" Nephrite choked at the thought of hot having Zoisite making his life a living Hell.
Kunzite placed his hand upon her forehead. "It must be the baby." He reasoned.
"WHAT?!" Nephrite choked. "Did you say ‘baby’?"
"Yeah," Kunzite replied off handily, his fingers checking her pulse.
"Why did she loose her appetite? Does Queen Beryl know?" Nephrite asked in a rush.
"Beryl and yes." Kunzite’s heart clenched as he felt Zoisite’s pulse flutter erratically against his fingers. "Zoi," he whispered, choking on his tears. "I’m sorry." He gently touched her face.
"We have to get Amethyte," Nephrite stated.
"No." Kunzite snapped.
"Then what about Zo?" Nephrite shot back.
"I have to get Amethyte. I must apologize for what I did, but." Tears started to roll down his face. Nephrite, shocked at this display of emotion from the ‘Ice King’, realized how very much Kunzite loved her. Rumor said that he was one of the coldest people in the Dark Kingdom. Evidently, towards Zoisite, he was one of the warmest. "Her pulse is so weak............ If she is to go, I don’t want to leave her."
Nephrite, in that moment, respected Kunzite even more than Zircon. "Go, Lord Kunzite." He smiled at him softly. "I will call you if she starts to fail."
Kunzite hesitated a moment, but Nephrite reassured him. "She needs Amethyte more than either of us right now. Go."
Kunzite, with a last look at Zoisite, disappeared.
Nephrite bent over the prone form in his arms and whispered into her ear, "Zo. Come on! Snap out of it! I can’t live without your antagonism. I need you to annoy me."
If Zoisite heard, she made no move.
"Zo. Kunzite is pawing some hooker." Zoisite stirred slightly in his arms, then made no more movement.
"DAMN!"
Amethyte awoke with a start and heard someone banging upon the door. She untangled herself from Jadeite’s arms, and walked swiftly to the door. She expected to see a minion of Beryl with her assignment, but it was not so. Her eyes narrowed. "Kunzite," she said wearily. She was intrigued by his sudden appearance after what had happened earlier. She noticed there were tears flowing down his face.
"I am so sorry for hurting Jae!" He cried as he started to tremble.
"It is understandable." She knew that was not the reason he came to her. She looked again at the tears coursing down his face. "Why have you come?"
"It-it’s Zoi!" He blurted.
Amethyte’s guard dropped at that phrase. "What happened?" She led him into the room and bade him to speak softly, as she pushed him down in a chair.
"I don’t know!!!" He cried and lowered his head into his shaking hands, letting all his pain free.
Amethyte knelt down beside him and placed a gentle hand upon his shoulder. "Tell me all you know."
Kunzite swallowed his tears. "She just finished yelling at me. Then Nephrite showed up, and the next thing I know, she collapsed." He looked up at her with haunted eyes. "Her pulse is weak and feels like a hummingbird’s. I just don’t understand!"
Amethyte inhaled sharply, grabbed Kunzite’s hand, and hauled him to his feet. "Hurry."
Nephrite had tried every trick in the book. From Nephrite dying, Kunzite being mortally wounded, to Kunzite sleeping with BERYL, and he received no response for his work. He felt against his fingers Zoisite ’s pulse flutter erratically. He placed his hand upon her forehead and felt a warmth there.
"Zoi?" He called, and again no response.
Suddenly, Amethyte and Kunzite appeared before him with a flash of blue energy.
Amethyte quickly knelt down beside Zoisite’s prone form, and placed a shapely hand against her forehead. She frowned. "She has a slight fever." She placed gentle hands against the swell of Zoisite’s stomach. She gently pressed to determine if anything was wrong with the child within her womb. After a few seconds, she felt the child move against her spayed hands, and sighed in relief.
"Well?" Kunzite was nervously shifting as he saw Amethyte’s hands moving across his’ love’s belly
"I am not sure." Her frown grew darker. "And that bothers me."
"Could her hand be infected?" Kunzite asked quietly.
"No. That would explain the fever but you were doing as ordered. So there should be no infection."
Zoisite gave a slight moan as Amethyte’s hands touched her side. She withdrew her hand, waited a few seconds, then pressed once more upon her side. Her knowing fingers found a slight crevice on Zoisite’s rib. "Kunzite, did you know that Zoisite has a cracked rib?"
"WHAT?!" Kunzite exploded.
Amethyte turned hardened eyes towards him. "She has a cracked rib. That is what is causing her fever, but not what made her pass out."
Kunzite’s hand started to clench and unclench. "Beryl did this."
"Whoa! Calm down, Kunzite!" Cried Nephrite. "Zoey needs you alive, not dead. She needs you to stand beside her."
Kunzite stood and started to pace furiously.
Amethyte murmured soft words, and a pale blue glow radiated out from the tips of her fingers. After a few minuets, Amethyte felt Zoisite’s rib began to knit. Soon, the wound, successfully healed and Amethyte sighed in relief. She replaced her hands upon Zoisite’s stomach and murmured a different incantation of words. With these words, she could see Zoisite’s body as if it were wide open before her. She found the cause in her blood. A simply little thing really, but coupled with her rib, it could have been worse. She became thrown into her body so hard she fell back against the stone floor. She sat back up and started to brush Zoisite’s coppery-hair.
"She’s got anemia."
Kunzite stopped his pacing. "She has what?"
Amethyte turned violet eyes filled with humor. "Anemia."
"I don’t mean to be rude, but what in the name of Hades is that?!?"
"Lack of iron in the blood system." Nephrite replied, tears coursing down his cheeks.
Kunzite forgot his anger at Beryl and knelt down beside his love. "So, that is normal, right?"
Amethyte smiled. "In some cases, yes. But you must watch her closely, as she might go into labor prematurely. And be carefully if you have any more children."
"Do you want her to lie upon the floor and catch chill?" Kunzite asked with slight scorn.
"Of course not!" Cried Amethyte, rising. "We should leave you two alone, right, Neffy?" She elbowed Nephrite in his back.
"Oh! Yeah! Ummm. I believe we should." He rose with Zoisite still in his arms, and gave a crooked grin. "I believe this belongs to you."
Kunzite held out his arms, and gently picked her lax form out of Nephrite’s arms. "Thank you, my friend." A ghost of a smile played upon his lips.
"Come on, Neffy," Amethyte said, tugging him away. "Let’s leave them alone." With that, Amethyte walked out the door, dragging a protesting Nephrite behind.
Kunzite looked down at Zoisite. She was regaining some of her color. He walked cautiously towards the bed, being careful not to wake or jar her. Gingerly, he sat down and wrapped one of the black silk bed sheets around her, trying to keep her delicate frame warm. Tenderly, he brushed her coppery-gold hair out of her face, gazing, enchanted by her beauty. He bent forward and placed a soft kiss upon her lips.
Kunzite settled himself against the headboard, cradling her gently within his arms. Cautiously, he placed his hand on top of her gentle swelling, and felt their child move.
A tear slowly crept down his face as he felt the fluttering movement of the babe in her womb. Slowly, his eyes drifted shut, and he slipped into an uneasy slumber.
Zoisite awoke slowly, feeling, vaguely, Kunzite’s arms around her. ‘What happened?’ She thought to herself. She felt a burning pain race along her side when she moved. She gasped and moved to unlace her shirt to see what caused the pain. Upon her left side, there was a huge, black bruise. Gingerly, she touched it and promptly hissed. She sighed and pulled the sheet back across her body.
She shifted uncomfortably, then she rose slightly, and turned in his arms. She straddled his hips, pressing closely against him, and wrapping him in the sheet as well.
Kunzite murmured and wrapped his arms around her, pulling her closer. Zoisite snuggled contentedly, her stomach pressed against his. Suddenly, Kunzite jumped, his eyes wide.
Zoisite couldn’t help laughing.
Keeping one arm around her, he ran his free hand through his silvery hair.
"Was that the babe that moved like that?" He asked wearily.
"I’m afraid so. He seems rather restless." She looked down sharply down at her stomach. "Stop that, Little One!"
"‘Little One’?" He quarried. His lips quirking at the corners, and eyes filled with amusement.
"Well, I don’t know whether it’s a boy or a girl, so I use my nickname." She grinned. "I like the name, and he IS little."
"Little One, we can hardly call the child that." A hint of irony flashed in his eyes. "What shall I call you then?"
A look of sorrow crossed her face. "We can’t keep him, Kun-chan." Her hand touched his face. "You must know that."
"I said I would get you out of here, and I meant every word I said!" He declared fiercely.
"Love, Beryl said that if I tried to leave, she would track me down and kill me. She knows my signature, and before either of us could gather the power, we would be crushed." She ran her hand through his hair. "You know she wants the child." She lowered her hand to her growing stomach. "This child shall have great power, Kunzite." She gave a sad smile. "I can not fight back. Yet."
"But," he was silenced by Zoisite’s slender fingers upon his lips.
"We can not fight back yet, My Love. Think of the innocent life that is at stake." She brushed her hand through his hair again. "Do you want our child’s blood upon our hands?"
She watched him slowly shake his head. "Then we must not fight. When we know he is safe and able to take care of himself, then we attack."
Kunzite understood, but did not want to believe.
"I still want you safe." He lifted teary eyes to gaze at her. "But it is the best for our child, so be it." His arms wrapped around her, stroking her hair. "I want our child to be raised in the light as he should be, but," his voice cracked. "This time we must let Beryl have her way."
Tears flowed down his face, as he held her closer to him. He felt against his stomach the new life they had created.
"I tried Zoi," he whispered brokenly. "I’m sorry." He clutched her close, letting his tears fall into her hair. "I’m sorry about everything."
"Why should you be sorry?" She asked, wrapped in his arms, she felt his heart beating under her cheek; Strong and steady.
Kunzite pulled the sheet over their bodies, clothing them in darkness. He rested his cheek against her head, staring out into the blackness. "For not being there when you faced Beryl. Not being able to protect you. I have failed you." Tears slipped silently down his face. "And I can’t stand it."
Zoisite burrowed deeper in his embrace, nuzzling his chest. "You have nothing to feel sorry for."
He squeezed her close. "Yes. I should stand up to the Hell-spawn."
"But if you did, I would die." Zoisite said simply.
"I love you too much not to do something," he stated, stroking her hair.
Zoisite pulled away to look into his silver eyes. Laying her hand upon his face, she said, "You can not do anything. Because," She brushed back the strands of silver hair that fell to frame his face. "She would kill you for breaking control, and that would kill me." She smiled. "Not having you to be my rock, my stability. I need someone to keep me sane, furthermore." She kissed his forehead. "I don’t want Beryl to have you. You must know that she lusts after you." She threaded her hands through his hair.
Kunzite grimaced. "I noticed." He ran his hand through her shimmering hair. "I want only you. I never want anyone else. This one time I can’ t protect you. That is why it hurts." He kissed her forehead. "I love you so much." He whispered, his voice thick with love. "I will never leave you. You know that, don’t you?"
Zoisite sighed and pressed her face against his hand. "I know, My Kunzite-sama. I no longer fear that." She snuggled up against him. "I just want you to hold me."
Kunzite wrapped his arms tightly about her. "What do you want me to do, Love?" He whispered, almost choking.
"Just wait, Kun-chan. That is all we can do."
"I HATE YOU!!!!!" Zoisite’s mind screamed at the tall, smug queen standing at the foot of the bed as her body convulsed in birthing pain, her wet hair plastered to her forehead, her hands clawed into the bed.
Zoisite’s time of birth had come and Beryl was anxious for the child to make its appearance. She had decided not to kill the child after all, but to let her sister Baleska raise it as her own. Baleska would keep the child safe and teach it to serve Beryl when it grew old enough. Beryl wanted the child NOW!!! She wanted to hurt Zoisite for betraying her. She watched through silted eyes as the birthing progressed.
Kunzite watched as his love convulsed, helpless to do any thing as Beryl ordered him to stay away from her. He wanted to reach out and soothe the pain he felt coming from her. Finally, for he could stand it no longer, he ran forward to place a comforting arm beneath the head and shoulders of his beloved. He did not care for the look of displeasure that spread across his Queen’s face, and he did not care what she thought about their love. He only wanted to soothe his mate’s pain.
Amethyte was nervous. The Deadly Queen just a few feet away, watching every move she made, making sure she would do nothing to the child. Gently touching Zoisite’s large stomach, she felt the next contraction rend its way through her slender frame.
"How long?" Beryl hissed. The eagerness of her voice was unmistakable.
"Soon, My Queen," Amethyte soothed. The under current to her words though meant something entirely different, but she had to stay in Hell-spawn’s good graces, despite how much she wanted to rend Beryl’s throat to pieces.
All the while Zoisite struggled, as the birthing was draining the last of her strength. Kunzite felt his love faltering, and gave her his strength and power for her to continue. She felt the gentle touch, like that of a feather, of his mind against hers.
"Bring our child to life, my Angel. Take my strength and my power to do so." He gently kissed her damp forehead. Kunzite sent a wave of tender love down the bond they shared, and he felt her return that love weakly. He felt her body tremble and he pulled her body closer to him, tightening his hold. He felt the flutter of the thoughts as she touched his mind.
"The child shall be here in a few moments."
"I know," he kissed her. "I know, and I love you."
Zoisite gave a scream as she gave birth to her first child.
Beryl’s eyes grew wide at the sound of Zoisite’s scream and she shivered in pleasure. She saw Amethyte rushing around tending to the little baby, and saw the traitor collapse in to Kunzite’s protective arms with a low moan.
Even though Kunzite still sent her his strength through the bond, Zoisite felt drained. She felt like falling over the brink of consciousness, but she held on to see what happened. She would not let Beryl snatch her babe away while she slept.
Amethyte stepped to Zoisite’s side with the baby wrapped in a soft blanket. The child was perfect, and Amethyte felt nothing but pride in this King for her courage and strength.
"The child is male." She leaned close to Zoisite’s ear and whispered, "I admire you, Lady, and I love you as I would a sister."
Kunzite held his beloved as she looked up at Amethyte with bruised and weary eyes. Dark circles marred her face and she seemed gaunt to Kunzite’s eyes.
"Name the child and all will be done." Beryl’s voice held no room for argument, yet that’s exactly what Zoisite did.
"May I at least hold the child that I have carried for nine months within my body?" She sounder as bad as she looked. Haggard and worn out, like a rag doll.
Beryl was getting agitated. "Fine!" She snapped.
Kunzite slipped in behind, supporting and steadying her weak and tired body. Amethyte gingerly place the babe in Zoisite’s shaking arms.
Beryl saw the love they so freely showed and almost got physically, and violently, sick. She hated love and did every thing in her power to destroy it, but.......No, the child would be too powerful to leave in their hands. She watched the scene before her intently for a few seconds, then quickly disappeared.
Kunzite took off a delicately made silver chain from around his neck, and placed the plain gold band that Zoisite had given as a token of love. Zoisite slipped off a delicately carved sliver band from her finger; Kunzite’s love gift. They placed both upon the chain and slipped it around the child’s neck, giving them a sense of hope. They hid it in the folds of the blanket so that Beryl would not find their gift of love.
A small hand reached up to grasp firmly around one of Kunzite’s fingers. The strength in the little hand shocked and at the same pleased him. Kunzite let out a soft sob, as he gently touched the babe that his love had given him.
"Beryl has gone for but a moment. You need to nurse him."
Amethyte smiled sadly. "While you still have time." When Zoisite just looked tiredly up at her, Amethyte sighed. She unlaced Zoisite’s gown and slid it off to expose one of her breasts. "Nurse him."
Finally Zoisite raised the child to her breast, and felt his lips start to suckle. Not taking her eyes off her precious son, she whispered, "Shall we name him as planed?"
Kunzite kissed her ear fiercely. "The name you chose is perfect." He looked down at the small babe. Pale wisps of hair, to be golden like his mother’s, and her emerald eyes to be sure, Kunzite thought.
"Alexandrite," he whispered, bending forward to gently kiss the little fingers curled around his own, careful not to wake him, as he lay in Zoisite’s arms, his lips still moving.
Beryl returned just as Zoisite bent down to give the sleeping child a kiss upon his forehead. The child was now hers. Her eyes gleamed red in anticipation. Her child!!!
Zoisite could hear, somewhere in the kingdom, a clock tolling.....
"Bring the child here, Zoisite!" She spat her name.
One.......
Zoisite shivered as she slipped out of the bed, supported by Kunzite. She felt weak but would not let it show in front of this Hell-Demon. She stood tall and erect, unaided by her love. She wanted to scream with the pain of her body, the pain inflicted upon her soul, and at the thing that was taking her child. She knew that she would never be the same after this. Deep down in her soul, she knew.
Two....
Her gown, nearly transparent with sweat, clung to her battered body as she clutched Alexandrite to her chest. She stopped a foot from the person of her nightmares.
Three....
"Name the child, you Bitch!!!" Beryl roared.
Four...
"Alexandrite, My Queen!" The sneer was evident in her voice, but Beryl was too ecstatic to hurt her that she did not notice.
Five.....
"Son of Beryl," Beryl stated, making Zoisite flinch. "No longer the son of the traitorous Zoisite."
Six.....
Beryl’s’ eyes gleamed even brighter with an evil light. "Give me the child."
Seven....
Zoisite froze. She wanted to keep her baby, but she also knew that if she defied Beryl on more time, Beryl would kill her.
Eight......
"NOW!!!!!!" Thundered Beryl.
Nine.......
Zoisite felt the loving warmth that Kunzite sent her as he whispered in to her mind, "We can have more than one child, my Zoi."
Ten......
Tears starting to blur her vision, she handed him to Beryl.
Eleven.....
"AT LAST!!!" Cried the Queen as she disappeared, taking Zoisite’s soul with her.
Twelve........
Zoisite stood staring at the place where her baby had just been and collapsed, sobbing hysterically.
With a great cry, Kunzite ran to her prone form lying on the cold stone. Wrapping his arms around her, he pulled her gently to his chest sobbing bitterly.
Amethyte walked over and wrapped her arms about them both.
"You may yet have a chance, so do not despair," Amethyte whispered.
"He will never know me!!" Zoisite wept even harder. "He will never remember!!"
"Shhh." Amethyte gently stroked her hair out of her face. "Who could forget you?" A soft smile played about her lips.
Kunzite, tears streaming down his face, gently raised Zoisite’s face to his, looking into the tear-filled eyes. "I love you." With those words, he kissed her softly.